Olhão

Olhão is a city that grew from a fishing village on the Ria Formosa, with 44 614 inhabitants across 131 km².

Known as the "cubist town", it has whitewashed houses with flat roof terraces, edged in blue or grey, in an architecture with North African influence. The headquarters of the Ria Formosa Natural Park sits at Quinta de Marim, on the edge of the city.

Beaches and islands in Olhão

Ilha da Armona: barrier island in the parish of Quelfes, with holiday homes, a sea beach, Armona Mar, and a lagoon beach, Armona Ria.
Praia da Ilha da Fuseta: beach at the eastern tip of Armona, facing the village of Fuseta.
Fuseta (1 845 inhabitants · 2 km²): fishing village with a sea beach, Fuseta Mar, and a lagoon beach, Fuseta Ria.
Cais de Olhão: ferry quay for Armona, Culatra and Farol.

Monuments in Olhão

Igreja Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Rosário: parish church built between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, whose bells rang during the 1808 uprising against the French invasion.
Capela de Nosso Senhor dos Aflitos: chapel behind the parish church, where women prayed on stormy days while the men were at sea.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Soledade: church in front of the municipal museum.
Caíque Bom Sucesso: replica of the boat that sailed from Olhão to Brazil in 1808 to tell the king that the French had been driven out.

Museums and culture in Olhão

Museu Municipal de Olhão: archaeological and regional collections.

Markets in Olhão

Mercados de Olhão: two red-brick market halls from the early 20th century on the waterfront, selling fish, fruit and vegetables.

Nature in Olhão

Jardim Pescador Olhanense: waterfront garden with benches decorated with nautical azulejos.
Cerro de São Miguel: summit of the Serra de Monte Figo at 411 metres, with a viewpoint over the southern Algarve coast.
Cerro da Cabeça: hill in the east of the Serra de Monte Figo with karst formations of geological value.

Golf in Olhão

Colina Verde: 9-hole course north of Fuseta, in a rural setting suited to beginners.

Marinas in Olhão

Porto de Recreio de Olhão: capacity for 320 vessels inside the Ria Formosa.

Parishes of Olhão

Moncarapacho (7 422 inhabitants · 69 km²): inland parish below the Serra de Monte Figo.
Pechão (3 888 inhabitants · 20 km²): parish north of the city.